“I say… aren’t you two on the same side?” Qi Xia frowned.
“What’s it to ya?” Old Sun sized Qi Xia up. “Just ’cause we’re on the same side means we can’t fight?”
Qi Xia sensed something familiar about the man, a trait eerily similar to Qiao Jiajin’s.
But the way that trait manifested, influenced by their different backgrounds, made the two men seem entirely different.
“Thanks, but I don’t need anyone sticking up for me,” Qi Xia said. “If there’s nothing else, you two can fight all you want. We’ll be on our way.”
“Leaving…?” Old Sun looked stunned. “I’m standing up for you, and you just wanna leave?”
Qi Xia felt like he was stuck in that age-old dilemma—a scholar trying to reason with a brute.
“I already said I don’t need anyone fighting my battles,” Qi Xia insisted. “If you’re putting on a show for me, save it.”
“A show?!” Old Sun’s temper flared. “Come here, take a good look—does this seem like a show to you?!”
With that, he clenched his fist and thrust it toward Qi Xia. “Take this rock for self-defense. If things get ugly, you’ll see just how serious I am.”
He extended his hand as if passing something to Qi Xia.
But Qi Xia knew the hand was empty.
“Listen, you—”
Before Qi Xia could protest, he suddenly felt the weight of a solid rock in his palm.
It sat there, cold and real, as if it had always been there.
“What the—?” Qi Xia blinked. “A rock out of thin air?”
Without hesitation, Old Sun clenched his fist again, and a thick stone rod materialized in his grip. “Xiaoxiao! Apologize to this guy already. How are we supposed to recruit him if you keep pissing him off?”
“I’m not apologizing. I didn’t do anything wrong,” Xiaoxiao retorted. “If it weren’t for me, would Qi Xia have learned about the ‘Land of the End’ so quickly?”
Qi Xia’s expression darkened. He tossed the rock aside. “You people are insane. Let me say it again—I’m not joining you. Even if you two kill each other over me, I’m not joining.”
“Hey, hey, hey! Buddy!” Old Sun grabbed Qi Xia’s arm. “Let’s talk this out! If you’re still mad, take this rod!”
Qi Xia scoffed. “Just as I thought—this is all an act. I want nothing to do with you.”
“Aw, come on, it’s not an act,” Old Sun said, tossing the rod away when he saw Qi Xia wasn’t buying it. “I’ve never liked Xiaoxiao’s methods. She’s way too extreme.”
Qi Xia exchanged a glance with Dr. Zhao. They had no interest in sticking around.
“Hey, man!” Old Sun still hadn’t let go. “You really won’t reconsider joining us?”
Qi Xia stopped and stared at him. “Are you going to kill me?”
“Huh?”
“If not, stop wasting my time. My answer is clear.” He glanced at Xiaoxiao. “I refuse to associate with lunatics like her.”
Xiaoxiao’s face fell slightly at his words.
Old Sun froze, unsure how to respond.
Jiang Ruoxue stepped forward with a smile. “Let it go, Old Sun. Just let him leave.”
“Eh? Xiaojiang… didn’t you say this guy was something special?”
“But his first impression of Xiaoxiao couldn’t be worse. There’s no point pushing it.” She turned to Xiaoxiao with a wry smile. “Xiaoxiao, did you take that lithium I found for you?”
“Yeah, I take it every midnight,” Xiaoxiao muttered, looking down.
“Wait, what?! Midnight?!” Old Sun recoiled. “You sure you’re taking the right one?! No wonder I’ve been puking acid at night—you’ve been feeding it to me instead?!”
“W-what?” Xiaoxiao paled. “No way… I transferred it to you?”
Qi Xia watched the madness unfold, his patience at its limit.
Was this another act?
“Let’s go,” he muttered to Dr. Zhao.
“Right, right.” Dr. Zhao scurried to leave.
“N-no… no!” Xiaoxiao suddenly whipped around, her gaze vacant as she stared at Qi Xia’s retreating figure. “Ruoxue, we can’t let him leave. He’s too smart. He’ll collect all 3,600 ‘Paths’…”
“Calm down, Xiaoxiao,” Jiang Ruoxue said, frowning.
“I am calm.” Xiaoxiao took a deep breath. “Everyone else is expendable, but Qi Xia is different. He’s destined to stay here with us…”
In one swift motion, she yanked off her shirt, revealing a sports bra and a body rippling with muscle.
Dr. Zhao nearly jumped out of his skin.
“Holy hell…” He never imagined Xiaoxiao’s T-shirt hid such a physique.
Xiaoxiao snatched up the rock Qi Xia had discarded earlier.
“Xiaoxiao!” Jiang Ruoxue grabbed her arm. “Don’t be rash! We agreed to discuss things first!”
“I’ll make sure Qi Xia stays!” Xiaoxiao grinned eerily. “Once he’s here, we’ll talk!”
With that, she smashed the rock against her own forehead.
Qi Xia and Dr. Zhao stared in shock.
Blood gushed from the wound.
“What… what is she doing?!”
“Doesn’t matter—run!”
Qi Xia dragged Dr. Zhao into a sprint.
Xiaoxiao’s face twisted with disappointment. “Didn’t work? No matter…”
She raised the rock again and struck herself a second time.
A dull thud echoed—and Dr. Zhao flew backward as if struck by an invisible force.
“Ahh!!” He clutched his head, writhing on the ground. “What the hell?!”
He winced in pain, but there was no injury.
Watching Dr. Zhao roll in agony, Qi Xia glared at the trio. “You psychos… When will this end?”
Xiaoxiao swayed, dropping the rock. She didn’t look much better.
“Old Sun… tie him up…”
“Huh? You serious?” Old Sun hesitated.
“Just… do it…” She pressed a hand to her bleeding forehead.
“Uh… sorry, man.” Old Sun summoned another stone rod with his left hand and pulled a coil of rope from his pocket with the right, advancing slowly.
Qi Xia’s eyes turned icy as he rolled up his sleeves.
“Try it.”
Jiang Ruoxue looked uneasy. She hurried to help Dr. Zhao up—things were spiraling out of control.
“Are… are you okay?”
Dr. Zhao rubbed his head, then forced a smile. “Fine, fine…”
Then, without thinking, he patted her hand. “Thanks!”
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